Eight Irishmen hoping for happy Mondays in Open and US Open qualifiers

Paul McGinley got a late call up for IFQ for the Open at Sunningdale Old and New today. Credit: www.golffile.ieEight Irishmen - four on each a side of the Atlantic - will bid for their places in final qualifying events for the next two majors today.

Paul McGinley got a late call up to join Shane Lowry, Michael Hoey and Gareth Maybin in International Final Qualifying for July’s Open Championship as part of a 96-man field seeking just 10 places at Royal St George’s in July.

McGinley, 43, was a reserve for the event at Sunningdale because he is ranked 551st in the world. However, he earned his place to thanks to the late withdrawal of fellow Dubliner Peter Lawrie after his wife gave birth to the couple’s fourth child - and first son - on Friday night.

The odds on the Sunningdale four making it to Sandwich are quite good compared to the lesser known Irish quartet battling for places in Sectional Qualifying for next week’s US Open.

Waterford amateur Kevin Phelan, a surprise qualifier for Pebble Beach last year, tees it up at Vero Beach in Florida where 56 players will battle for just three places in the field at Congressional Country Club near Washington DC.

Kerry native Sean Quinlivan is in action at Canoe Brook Country Club in New Jersey, where 83 players will fight it out for four US Open place over two rounds.

Ballymena’s Chris Devlin, a close friend of former UAB college team mate Graeme McDowell, will bid to qualify for his second US Open in the space of three years when he competes at Springfield Country Club in Ohio as one of 34 players gunning for two spots.

In Texas, Ulsterman Fergal Rafferty goes at Dallas Athletic Club’s Blue Course as one of 71 players fighting for four spots.

8 into 21 doesn't go as Irish miss out on major spots

Chris Devlin qualified for the US Open at Torrey Pines in 2008 but narrowly missed out in Sectional Qualifying this year. Pic courtesy irishgolfclubgazette.blogspot.comThere was no luck for Ireland’s eight hopefuls in qualifying for The Open and the US Open at five venues on both sides of the Atlantic on Monday.

Hoey gets hot in Paris

Michael Hoey takes his hand off the club as he drives at Wentworth in last month’s BMW PGA. Credit: www.golffile.ieAs Paul McGinley ended a run of three missed cuts in a row to head the Irish challenge with Gareth Maybin, Belfast’s Michael Hoey produced a stunning back nine of six under 30 to make the weekend action in the Alstom Open de France at Le Golf National near Paris.

Devlin, Quinlivan and Rafferty in US Open sectionals

Sean QuinlivanTwo Ulstemen and a Kerryman will join the hundreds of hopefuls at 11 sectional qualifying sites across the United States on June 4 seeking a place in the US Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Former East of Ireland winner and Listowel native Sean Quinlivan will tee it up at Canoe Brook Country Club in New Jersey, Ballyena’s Chris Devlin goes at Springfield Country Club in Ohio, and Dungannon’s Fergal Rafferty at Lakeside Country Club in Houston, Texas.

Young guns shine in Ryder Cup ante-room

Michael Hoey marks a ball at Gleneagles. Picture Stuart Adams www.golftourimages.comThe race for places in Paul McGinley’s European Ryder Cup team begins in Wales next week and Ireland’s Michael Hoey, GarethMaybin andShane Lowry look ready to make a hot start to the campaign.